The Streetlink app permits members of the general public to alert native homelessness help companies in the event that they see somebody sleeping tough of their space.
Final 12 months it was used to ship alerts on to the Mayor’s Speedy Response Outreach Staff supporting practically 2,000 folks into emergency lodging or an evaluation hub, with 85 per cent leaving tough sleeping because of this.
It was additionally utilized by eight London boroughs with native outreach groups responding to StreetLink alerts, however after the Authorities enlisted a brand new supplier for the service this winter the app was turned off and all referrals now need to be made on the StreetLink web site.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan
/ PAFrom 29 September 2023, Streetlink’s app ceased functioning, severing a significant technique for involved members of the general public to assist folks sleeping tough.
Mr Khan mentioned: “It beggars perception that the Authorities is eradicating this help for tough sleepers at a time when the variety of folks on our nation’s streets is rising, with the quantity up three-quarters in England since 2010.
“Final 12 months, greater than 11,000 referrals had been made throughout England by way of the StreetLink app, round half of which had been in London. This app has been essential for connecting tough sleepers to companies that may get them off the streets, together with the Mayor’s pioneering Speedy Response Outreach Staff.
“Ministers should urgently re-instate this vital help for tough sleepers.”
Since 2016, the Mayor’s Tough Sleeping Programme has supported over 15,500 folks to depart the streets completely.
It comes as specialists predicted the Authorities wouldn’t meet its goal to finish tough sleeping by subsequent 12 months amid “power and unresolved” points within the housing system.
The failure will come because the nation faces a housing and affordability disaster which is pushing extra folks onto the streets, and as stress on public companies leads to a scarcity of early help to assist prevention, the Kerslake Fee mentioned.
The impartial group of 36 specialists was fashioned in 2021 to have a look at the teachings from the emergency response which supported folks sleeping tough throughout the pandemic, however mentioned the newest official figures present long-term progress has not been made.